Recognition awards program
The recognition awards program for Development and Alumni Relations takes place annually and is designed to recognize individuals for achievements and behavior that reinforce DAR’s core values: act with integrity, champion inclusivity, demonstrate tenacity, recognize success and pursue excellence.
Regular benefited and hourly employees of the Development and Alumni Relations team are eligible to be nominated and can nominate other eligible employees. Members of the Development and Alumni Relations awards selection committee and winners from the past five years in each category cannot be nominated.
The Development and Alumni Relations Recognition Awards Program honors eight employees each year. Employees can be nominated for multiple awards as long as they meet eligibility criteria for each award. Awards are presented at an annual celebration and ceremony; recipients are encouraged to be present. Members of the Development and Alumni Relations awards selection committee and winners from the past five years in each category cannot be nominated.
- Living Our Values Award (five recipients): This award recognizes employees who best exemplify excellence in one or more of DAR’s core values — act with integrity, champion inclusivity, demonstrate tenacity, recognize success and pursue excellence — as well as demonstrate a “together we” approach in their interaction with colleagues. A nomination can be for a single action, special project or initiative, exemplary service or achievement that occurred within the past calendar year.
- The Unsung Hero Award: This award recognizes behind-the-scenes employees who have positively impacted DAR with a positive attitude, willingness to help in whatever capacity necessary and a commitment to excellence. It is presented to individuals who demonstrate exceptional customer service, innovation or professional accomplishment in the past calendar year.
- Newcomer Award: This award recognizes employees who have worked at DAR for fewer than two years and demonstrate exceptional ability to adjust to a new work environment. It is presented to individuals who exemplify excellence in one or more of DAR’s core values: act with integrity, champion inclusivity, demonstrate tenacity, recognize success and pursue excellence.
- Excellence in Management or Leadership: This award recognizes managers or leaders who best exemplify excellence in one or more of DAR’s core values - act with integrity, champion inclusivity, demonstrate tenacity, recognize success and pursue excellence - as well as demonstrate exceptional management or leadership of their team.
Each award recipient receives a framed certificate and the choice of a cash spot award of $500 or eight hours of paid time off. Hourly employees are not eligible for paid time off. Cash awards will be made through Payroll Services and taxed accordingly. Paid time-off hours must be approved and used in accordance with university leave usage policy and guidelines.
The awards selection committee is responsible for managing the Development and Alumni Relations Recognition Award Program and determining the award winners. The committee is composed of members of the DAR Advisory Council and the previous year’s award recipients. Previous winners are not required to serve but are strongly encouraged to do so. The selection committee is responsible for objective oversight of the award selection process. Members of the selection committee must be in good performance standing and have no active written notices.
Procedures
- The awards selection committee announces the program and posts the deadline for nomination submission.
- Regular benefited and hourly employees of VCU and the universitywide Development and Alumni Relations team, including center, school and unit DAR staff, are eligible to be nominated and can nominate other eligible employees. Members of the Development and Alumni Relations awards selection committee and winners from the past three years in each category cannot be nominated.
- The awards selection committee reviews submissions with the name of the nominated individual redacted.
- If no one is nominated for one or more award categories, the committee reserves the right to move a nominee from one category to another in consultation with the nominator. Alternatively, the committee can proceed without a winner in a category that has no nominee.
- Awards are presented at an annual ceremony.
Congratulations to the 2023 DAR Recognition Award recipients!
Living Our Values Award: Robert Chisley (B.S.’14, M.S.L.’19), director of Black and African American initiatives, Inclusive Engagement and Philanthropy
Living Our Values Award: Tazjia Harris-Paiva, director of development, College of Humanities and Sciences
Living Our Values Award: Lynn Meyer, senior director of stewardship and donor engagement, Medical Philanthropy and Alumni Relations
Newcomer Award: Sara Haskins, instructional designer, Talent Management
Unsung Hero Award: Khaleliah N. Williams, assistant director of gift accounting, Gifts and Records Management